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Another test which brought the 14mm S4000 Meade up way short, was on HN40, the multiple star complex at the centre of M20 (Triffid Nebula). In the 14mm Pentax XW, on axis, I was able to resolve the A,B and C stars easily. I could not get D with this focal length. In the 13mm Nagler T6 I got A and B and very fleetingly C (in and out). In the 14mm S4000 Meade I struggled to split A and B. I subsequently put the 14mm Pentax XW back in the focuser to confirm this wasn't caused by deteriorating seeing conditions. On larger and dimmer diffuse targets like M42, Eta Carina, Tarantula Nebula etc the Meade was an excellent performer. However, on those other specific targets it came up way short for mine. That having been said, if you didn't have something better right beside you to directly compare, you would probably be very happy with the views.
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Wow, what a great report and story
John - many thanks. Must thank DavTuc too, because you mentioned Meade in the first place.
The older UWA Meade's (series 4000) did seem to perform better from what others have said, and Marki will agree too. I got the 6.7mm 5000 UWA, lucky I only paid $50 for it (figured I wouldn't have too much to lose). On my scope it's a piece of junk- I've kept it only because it'll be an eye piece I will let kids use (along with the ones that came with the scope).
Chromatic abberation a good 30% I would say, and so white and bright - Jupiter didn't give me much colour or detail at all. Threw the Pentax back on, and I had to pick my jaw off the floor with the difference.
Dave: Many thanks for your input.
It was interesting to hear your views on the XW14, especially against the LVW. The reverse is true with me, I find the XW easier to look into than the LVW (tho I love it all the same). I also find - and last night is a good example of this - the LVW eye cup cuts into my eye socket. I fold down the eye cup as having them on is actually worse. Six hours looking into this eye piece last night and my eye socket bone still hurts as I've obviously bruised the bone (there was also a big dark mark on it after I'd finished observing). My eye socket is bony 
. Then, I put my cheap Orion Expanse 15mm with nice eye cups, and whoa the relief. The views annoyed me too much, so ended swapping back to the LVW and sufferring more pain. 
For this reason, I would not have preferred the Vixen (if possible, but not closed off from it either, because at the end of the day, it is an excellent performer).
Astro744: Thank you for Your valued and appreciated input also. I agree with you what you said
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Some may see mild field curvature and call it severe.
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Note a severly curved field will show fuzzy stars at the edge. Galaxies are already fuzzy so they basically disappear.
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I guess it depends on how much time one spends looking at the edge- I do a lot (searching for objects and manually star hopping), so to me, f/curv. is an important factor (I could probably put up with about 10%) It'd make my job that much harder looking through bloated stars thru 20% of the ep. So I guess I would pick it and call it severe.
The Radians are off my radar, as they only have 60 fov, and I'm after a minimum of 65. For me, having an object as long as possible in the ep is important so I can concentrate on observing instead of constantly nudging the dob. Thank you though for the suggestion. I do hear they are a great eye piece.
Erick: What do you think I'm made of money
Parracorr can stay in the shop on the shelf, I'm flat out getting my eyepiece man.
I'm having a friendly dig.
Thank you for your money spending input though.
Frontier Optics got back to me with a price on the Denks. $330 + $12 postage. Do-able, as this was the budget I'd set aside to originally get the XW from the U.S. I need to go back and check what the Denk. site was offering them at, as I now forget.
Regarding the Explore Scientific. After re-looking at those, I see the 900g weight is for the 2 inch 100deg. The 85 degree ones only weigh 255g.
John, I wish you had some experience with these - would have loved to have had your input. As Adrian pointed out, they are on sale for half price (1 1/4 inch in 85 deg) at only $99, till the 31st of March! 
They look such a good & comfy eye piece. I must admit, I thought seriously about these. But not enough feedback on this to base my decision on buying them. I would have bought two at that price.